5 CLIMATE POSITIVES: Summer 2021

Written By: Makenzie Willhite

1) India Banned Single - Use Plastics

A federal plan was administered by India’s federal government to ban single use plastic materials such as straws, plastic cups & ice cream sticks. The band DOES NOT rule out other types of common use plastics, but the government has promised to “set targets for manufacturers to be responsible for recycling or disposing of them after their use.” India viewed it as essential to mitigate plastic waste as NPR found that, “In 2020, over 4.1 million metric tons (4.5 million U.S. tons) of plastic waste was generated in India, according to its federal pollution watchdog.” Hopefully the new ban will bring great change in India.

2) Fin whales are BACK

The recovery of fin whales serves as a positive sign and hope. According to the New York times, “The rebounding of the fin whales’ population offers “a sign that if you enforce management and conservation, there are chances for species to recover,” Dr. Herr said.” Fin whales are symbolize the importance of each species within an ecosystem, as whales feed on krill, they excrete iron, which was locked in the crustaceans, back into the water. That, in turn, can boost phytoplankton, microscopic organisms that use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis and serve as the base of the marine food chain. Proving the necessity to keep species from going extinct to prevent throwing off the balance of environments.

3) Tracking Vehicle Carbon Emissions: The DOT Proposal

The Department of Transportation has proposed a new requirement that, “states and metropolitan areas measure the amount of carbon dioxide being released through driving on interstate highways and other major roads.” Transportation is the TOP US source of greenhouse gas emissions and with this step in the right direction states will be encouraged to set targets for reducing carbon emissions two and four years into the future.

4) The new substitute for cement: Algae

This new kind of cement was developed by the University of Colorado and is “. . . ‘grown’ by harnessing tiny sea organisms” and will be lighter in color and reflective. Cement production causes 7% of the global heat-trapping pollution that accelerates climate warming which is MORE THAN airplane travel. Scientist Will Srubar says that “This is a carbon dioxide removal project”. This could be huge in the fight against climate change.

5) Washington Post Calls Them “Climate Heros”: Bisons

The comeback of the Bison serves as an another example that there is still HOPE in “animal conservation” and “ecological protection”. Bison contribute to the “nurturing” of the ecosystem. For example, the bison’s grazing causes plant growth, creating a rush of new vegetation.